Innovax^®-ND-ILT Q&A

Innovax ND-ILT is a dual-construct HVT vaccine that provides long-term protection against three of the most important infectious diseases that threaten commercial poultry operations; Newcastle disease virus (NDV), infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV), and Marek’s disease virus (MDV).

HVT (herpesvirus of turkey) is a vaccine virus that has been used to aid protection against Marek’s disease for decades. The DNA of this virus is used as a backbone, and fragments of the genetic material from ND virus and ILT virus are inserted at a site within the HVT DNA that does not have a significant impact on the function or replication of the HVT virus itself. These fragments of genetic material tell the birds’ cells to produce immunogenic proteins normally associated with an ILT or ND infection, stimulating cell-mediated immunity and antibody production against these infections¹.

No, the vaccine consists of live HVT viruses containing genes that code for proteins produced by ND and ILT.  The ND and ILT vaccine viruses used in Innovax-ND-ILT do not spread horizontally and do not revert to virulence.¹

Innovax-ND-ILT has an excellent safety profile. No adverse reactions or MD lesions were observed in overdose trials following a 10-fold dose of vaccine administered by either in-ovo or subcutaneous injection. Trials also demonstrated no significant statistical difference on hatchability or weight gain vs controls.¹

Concurrent vaccination with other HVT vaccines is contraindicated because there can be significant interference between other HVT or rHVT vaccines and Innovax-ND-ILT.

The onset of immunity for Innovax-ND-ILT following in-ovo or subcutaneous injection are as follows:

ND: 5 weeks of age

ILT: 4 weeks of age

MD: 9 days

Protection against ND lasts for a duration of 62 weeks.

Protection against ILT lasts for a duration of 62 weeks.

Protection against MD lasts for a duration of the entire risk period.

Innovax-ND-ILT can be mixed in the same solvent and administered by the subcutaneous route with Nobilis^® Rismavac. For this mixed use, an onset of immunity of 5 days has been demonstrated for MD.

When early challenge with ND is a concern, day-old spray vaccination with Nobilis^® ND Clone 30 vaccine can be used alongside injectable hatchery vaccination or in ovo injection of Innovax-ND-ILT.  The live ND vaccine provides early protection, and Innovax-ND-ILT extends that protection for the life of the flock without further boosting in the field.

Nobilis^® IB Ma5 or Nobilis^® IB 4-91 can be administered to day-old chicks vaccinated either by the subcutaneous or in ovo route with Innovax-ND-ILT.